It’s only been a few weeks, but it’s already obvious that Saquon Barkley has the talent to be one of the best running backs in NFL history.

What Barkley has been able to do behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines has been nothing short of spectacular, and his Thursday night performance against the Philadelphia Eagles was just the latest example.

Barkley set a Giants rookie record for total yardage in a game, showing off his incredible skill set with big plays as both a runner and receiver:

The problem for the Giants? They still lost by three touchdowns, at home, to a division rival.

And such has been the familiar refrain for the G-Men so far in 2018: Barkley proving why most believed him to be the clear-cut top overall prospects in this year’s draft class, and the Giants proving why that doesn’t matter when you have dismal quarterback play.

Much ado has been made about Odell Beckham, Jr.’s vocal displeasure this season, but watch just a few offensive possessions, and you’ll find it hard to disagree with him about the state of his franchise, his offense, and particularly his quarterback.

Eli Manning is a two-time Super Bowl MVP who will likely end up in Canton one day. But right now, he’s a struggling shell of his former self who looks every bit of his 37 years, with a 4-17 record as a starter over the last two seasons.

The 2018 NFL draft class featured one of the most heralded quarterback classes in history, with at least three prospects making strong cases for consideration at No. 1 overall. That made it a perfect situation for a team like the Giants, a storied franchise rarely picking as high as No. 2 overall, with the chance to secure a top-shelf prospect to serve as Manning’s eventual successor.

After the Cleveland Browns threw a curve-ball and made Baker Mayfield the No. 1 overall pick, the Giants had the opportunity to make USC’s Sam Darnold or UCLA’s Josh Rosen their quarterback of the future (and perhaps, even the present). Instead, both of those passers have flashed their promising potential elsewhere, with Darnold doing it for the other New York team.

Again, there’s no denying that Barkley is a rare talent who was absolutely deserving of the No. 2 overall pick, in a vacuum. He may go on to wear a gold jacket, and become one of the most celebrated players in the history of one of the league’s most regal franchises. But that may not translate to wins in the same way a franchise quarterback would have, and it’s okay to recognize that both of those things can be true.